Green buildings have two primary objectives. The first is to reduce or eliminate negative impacts on the environment by using less energy and more natural resources. The second is to increase their positive impact on the environment, by generating their own energy or increasing biodiversity.
What qualifies as a green building varies from one country to the next. In the UK and across the EU, EPC ratings provide a framework for healthy, efficient and energy-saving buildings. Having a more sustainable home lowers the amount of CO2 emitted into the atmosphere. An analysis completed by the ONS in October 2022 showed that the average CO2 emissions for existing, older properties were more than double that of new houses.
Savils estimate that for each EPC grade a house climbs up, carbon emissions are reduced by 30-40%. Which will over time have a large impact on the environment.